Child carrier harness device and system

ABSTRACT

A child carrier harness that is adjustable to fit a wide range of child sizes yet is easy to use and comfortable for both the child and the wearer. The harness includes a running line for encircling a child&#39;s torso. A loop is disposed at one end of the running line. The opposite end of the running line may be fed through this loop to create a child tethering area for encircling a child&#39;s torso. The end of the running line opposite the loop is joined to the child carrier. The child tethering area can therefore tether the child (e.g., to the child carrier and thus the wearer) without encumbering the child&#39;s shoulders, arms, or legs or affecting the child&#39;s position within the child carrier. Additionally, adjustment of the running line allows the harness to fit a wide range of child sizes. A waist belt anchor portion may be used to provide the corresponding attachment point on carriers not provided with one.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC §119 toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/145,703, filed Apr. 10, 2015,entitled “CHILD CARRIER HARNESS DEVICE AND SYSTEM” by Telford, which ishereby fully incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to child carriers. More particularly, thedisclosure relates to systems for tethering a child in a carrier. Stillmore particularly, the disclosure relates to a device for tethering achild in a carrier in a manner that does not deleteriously affect thecomfort of the child or the wearer, the functionality of the carrier, orthe position of the child being carried.

BACKGROUND

There are currently a number of wearable child carriers on the marketwhich afford the wearer freedom of hand and arm movement whiletransporting a child that is secured in the carrier. These childcarriers generally do not provide features for specifically tethering achild in a carrier. In some jurisdictions, standards have been enactedrequiring tethering features to be provided for use with (or as a partof) child carriers. What is needed, therefore, are devices and systemsfor tethering a child to a child carrier in a manner that does notdeleteriously affect the comfort of the child or wearer of the carrier,does not impede the functionality of the carrier and does not impact theposition of the child being carried.

SUMMARY

To those ends, among others, embodiments disclosed herein provide aharness for tethering a child to a child carrier. The harness includes arunning line for encircling a child's torso. A loop is disposed at oneend of the running line. The opposite end of the running line may be fedthrough this loop to create a child tethering area for encircling achild's torso. The end of the running line opposite the loop is joinedto the child carrier. The child tethering area can therefore tether thechild (e.g., to the child carrier and thus the wearer) withoutencumbering the child's shoulders, arms, or legs or affecting thechild's position within the child carrier. Additionally, adjustment ofthe running line allows the harness to fit a wide range of child sizes.

When a child is displaced from the child carrier the weight of the child(e.g., a portion of the child's weight unsupported by the carrier) actsto tighten the child tethering area around the child's torso. Inparticular, the weight of the child acting on the running line serves tomove the running line through the loop, reducing the diameter of thechild tethering area encircling the child. The child tethering area thuscinches around the child, tethering the child by limiting the point ofmaximum displacement of the child away from the wearer of the childcarrier. In this manner, a child may be tethered by a harness placedonly around the child's torso, leaving the child's arms, shoulders, orlegs free of restraint and reducing or eliminating any interference withthe positioning of the child within the carrier

In one embodiment, the end of the running line opposite the loop mayinclude a harness attachment point for coupling to a correspondingcarrier attachment point on the child carrier. The carrier attachmentpoint may be a feature of the child carrier specifically designed assuch an attachment point or may utilize an existing feature of the childcarrier. In a particular embodiment for example, the carrier attachmentpoint may be a waistbelt of the child carrier. By utilizing an existingfeature of a child carrier, such as the waistbelt, as a carrierattachment point embodiments of such a harness may be easily utilizedwith a wide variety of carriers, including those that did not originallyinclude such a harness and even child carriers not originally designedfor use with such a harness.

Specifically, embodiments of a harness system include an anchor portionthat may be attached to a carrier to provide a carrier attachment pointfor attaching the harness attachment point of the harness. The anchorportion may be made of a length of flexible material and may include thecarrier attachment point corresponding to the harness attachment pointof the harness. In one embodiment, for example, a harness system mayinclude a waist belt anchor portion. The waist belt anchor portion maybe coupled to the waist belt of the child carrier. For example, in oneembodiment the waist belt anchor portion may be configured to encircle awaist belt of a child carrier and contain corresponding fasteners thatwhen fastened together allow the waist belt anchor portion to form aloop around the waist belt of the child carrier.

In one particular embodiment, to accommodate child carriers withdifferent size waist belts the waist belt anchor portion may includemultiple sets of corresponding fasteners, allowing the loop formed bythe waist belt anchor portion to be made larger or smaller as the needarises.

Embodiments of the waist belt anchor portion may also provide thecarrier attachment point for coupling to the harness attachment point ofthe harness. In particular, in one embodiment, each of the waist beltanchor portion and harness attachment point may include correspondingfasteners such that they may be coupled and decoupled from one another.This arrangement allows the harness to be placed on child and the childsituated in the carrier at any point before or after the harness iscoupled to the waist belt anchor portion. Accordingly, the ingress andegress of the child into both the carrier and the harness may befacilitated. In one embodiment, the harness may have a sleeve coveringat least a portion of the running line to, for example, provide addedcomfort for the child, protect the running line, or to facilitate themovement of the running line through the loop of the harness. The sleevemay be made out of ripstop nylon and/or may include a padded material.The sleeve may be attached to a portion of the running line and mayinclude a cinching portion near the harness attachment point where thecinching portion is not attached to the running line. This cinchingportion may thus facilitate the passing of the running line through theloop without interfering with the tightening of the harness as a childmoves away from the wearer.

Accordingly, embodiments of harness systems as disclosed herein may havemany advantages. For example, embodiments of such a harness system mayhave a small profile and thus may not be intrusive to either the childor the wearer of the carrier. Additionally, these harness systems may beless restrictive such that a child's movement may not be restrictedwhile the child is within the carrier. Yet a further advantage of aharness system as disclosed herein is that the harness may be simplerand easier to use than other devices currently available. In particular,embodiments of such a harness system may allow a child to be placed inthe harness either before or after the child is placed in the childcarrier. Moreover, the child may be placed in the harness either beforeor after the harness is coupled to the carrier itself. Such versatilityallows a wide variety of options for situating the child in the harnesssystem and the child carrier. As an additional advantage, use ofembodiments of the harness system does not impede the operation or useof the child carrier itself. In particular, the use of such harnesssystems does not impact the positioning of the child within the carrier.Thus, when used with child carriers that are designed to place the childin an ergonomic position (e.g., such as a spread-squat position) the useof such a harness does not impact the ergonomic positioning of thechild. Yet another advantage is that the harness acts based on theweight of the child and only tightens when the child moves away from thecarrier, increasing comfort for the child while in the carrier. Stillanother advantage is that harness systems as disclosed do not requirenumerous adjustments for a proper fit and may also easily accommodate awide range of child sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification areincluded to illustrate certain embodiments. A clearer impression ofdisclosed embodiments, and of various components and operation ofdevices and systems provided with the embodiments, will become moreapparent by referring to embodiments shown in the drawings, whereinidentical reference numerals indicate the same components throughout.Note that features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a harness system.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of elements of a harness system.

FIG. 3 shows an infant with one embodiment of a harness.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of elements of a harness system.

FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a waist belt anchor of a harness system.

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a waist belt anchor of a harness systemcoupled to a waistband of a child carrier.

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a harness system utilized with a child ina child carrier.

DESCRIPTION

The disclosure and various features and advantageous details thereof areexplained more fully with reference to the exemplary, and thereforenon-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddetailed in the following description. Descriptions of known startingmaterials and processes may be omitted so as not to unnecessarilyobscure the disclosure in detail. It should be understood, however, thatthe detailed description and the specific examples, while indicatingpreferred exemplary embodiments, are given by way of illustration onlyand not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications,additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of theunderlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from this disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, product,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

As used herein, the terms “fastener,” “fastening,” and contextualequivalents or variants thereof, may refer to any type of securingmechanism, such as, for example: buttons, snaps, d-rings, clips, hooks,patches of hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro or the like), or anyother securing mechanism, whether now known or hereafter described inthe art.

Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to beregarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or expressdefinitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Insteadthese examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being describedwith respect to one particular embodiment and as illustrative only.Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term orterms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompassother embodiments, as well as implementations and adaptations thereofwhich may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in thespecification, and all such embodiments are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the disclosure. Language designating suchnon-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to:“for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “in one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” and the like.

Conventional child carriers do not provide a means for specificallytethering a child in a child carrier. Some recent standards haverequired that manufacturers provide such a tether; however, currentlyavailable devices may be cumbersome to use and may inhibit the movementof the child's arms and shoulders, as well as cause discomfort andprevent the child from attaining an ergonomically advantageous positionwhen used with carriers that promote such a position. Additionally,current devices may inhibit the functionality of the carrier or may onlyfit a small range of child sizes, therefore requiring multiple devicesas the child grows.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a child carrier harness that isadjustable to fit a wide range of child sizes yet is easy to use andcomfortable for both the child and the wearer. The harness includes arunning line for encircling a child's torso. One end of the running linemay have a loop for passing the other end of the running line through,creating an area for encircling the child. The end of the running lineopposite the loop may be attached to a child carrier, therebyrestraining the child.

Examples of child carriers that may utilize a harness system such as theone disclosed herein may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/937,193, filed Sep. 9, 2004, entitled “BABY CARRIER” by Frost, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,322,498; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/209,580,filed Mar. 13, 2014, entitled “CHILD CARRIER” by Telford et al., nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,185,993; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/544,093, filed Aug. 19, 2009, entitled “INFANT CARRIER” by Frost, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,220,352, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a child carrier harness system 100 inaccordance with one embodiment comprises a harness 120 and a waist beltanchor portion 160. Harness 120 may be designed to fit around a child'storso. Waist belt anchor portion 160 may be used to connect harness 120to a child carrier. Harness 120 may also be used without waist beltanchor portion 160, such as by attaching directly to a child carrier.

In one embodiment, harness 120 comprises a harness loop 122, whichdefines an area 130 for encircling a child's waist or torso. Harnessloop 122 may comprise running line 126 at least partially covered bysleeve 127. Running line 126 may comprise a first end which may besecured to a child carrier and a second end having a reciprocating loop124. Running line 126 feeds through reciprocating loop 124, creatingarea 130 for encircling a child's torso. Harness 120 may then betethered to any suitable point using any means. Harness 120 may beattached to a carrier (or wearer) directly or through the use ofintermediate parts, such as waist belt anchor portion 160.

Waist belt anchor portion 160 may be adapted or otherwise suitablyconfigured for attachment to the waist belt of a child carrier(depicted, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6). In one embodiment, waist beltanchor portion 160 may provide a means for tethering harness 120 to achild carrier.

In one embodiment, when a child tethered in harness 120 moves away fromthe wearer of the child carrier, running line 126 moves out ofreciprocating loop 124 toward waist belt anchor portion 160. As runningline 126 moves out of reciprocating loop 124, cinching portion 128 iscompressed to facilitate travel of reciprocating loop 124 along a lengthof running line 126 while reducing the diameter of the area 130 forencircling the child's waist/torso. This tethers the child and limitsthe point of maximum displacement of the carried child away from thewearer of the child carrier. As the child is moved closer to the wearerof the carrier, running line 126 moves into reciprocating loop 124;cinching portion is extended to facilitate travel of reciprocating loop124 along a length of running line 126 while increasing the diameter ofthe area 130 for encircling the child's waist/torso, thereby providingmore room in area 130 when the child is closer to the wearer.

In some situations, harness 120 may hold the full weight of the child.The weight of the child acts to tighten area 130 around the child'storso. Harness loop 122 may catch at the child's hips, legs, or pelvis,especially if the child is wearing a diaper, and may hold the child inthe harness. Area 130 need not reduce to the size of the child's torsoto hold the child and may form a “teardrop” shape.

Waist belt anchor portion 160 comprises anchor tongues 162 for wrappingaround, for example, the waistband of a child carrier. As anchor tongues162 are wrapped around the waistband of the carrier, anchor tonguepress-fit snaps 164 may be engaged with lower anchor press-fit snaps166, or in the case of the wearer of the child carrier having a longertorso or a larger/smaller width waistband, with upper anchor press-fitsnaps 168. While the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 shows press-fit snaps164, 166, 168 and 170, any fastening means, whether now known orhereafter described in the art, may be alternatively, conjunctively orsequentially employed.

Upper anchor press-fit snaps 170 are generally not intended for securingwaist belt anchor portion 160 to the waistband of a child carrier. Inthe embodiments disclosed herein, the function of upper anchor press-fitsnaps 170 will be more fully described below with reference to FIG. 2.

Anchor tongues 162 may further comprise patches of hook-and-loopmaterial 180 intended for engagement with corresponding patches ofloop-and-hook material 182 and 184 along the length of anchor flap 190,depending on, for example, the wearer's torso length. That is to saythat the wearer may select lower anchor loop-and-hook patches 182 orupper anchor loop-and-hook patches 184 when the wearer attaches waistbelt anchor portion 160 to the waistband or waist belt of the childcarrier.

As shown, anchor flap 190 may comprise a point of attachment 175 (e.g.,a stitched patch or other fastening means) for securing an anchor flapwebbing or line (for example, on the opposite side of anchor flap 190 ofFIG. 1; not shown) to anchor flap 190. Further description of anchorflap webbing/line will be detailed in the discussion of FIGS. 2 and 4below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, as depicted, the diameter of area 130 forencircling the carried child's waist/torso has been reduced withcorresponding compression of cinching portion 128 as running line 126has moved out of reciprocating loop 124 (see, for example, the gatheredharness loop 122 material corresponding to the cinching portion 128 inFIG. 2).

Running line 126 may provide minimal longitudinal elasticity yet betransversely flexible so as to comfortably encircle a child's torso.Running line 126 may be made of any suitable material or combination ofmaterials. In one embodiment, running line 126 may be made of polyesterwebbing.

As shown in FIG. 2, running line 126 may be attached to harnessattachment 200. Harness attachment 200 may be a portion of a siderelease buckle. Harness attachment may be any other suitable means ofremovably attaching running line 126, including, but not limited to: abuckle, a clasp, a carabiner, or a snap hook. In another embodiment,running line 126 may be non-removably attached to a carrier.

Running line 126 may be adjustable so as to change area 130. Adjustmentmay be useful for allowing harness loop 122 to fit a wide range of childsizes. Adjustment may also be useful for ease of placing the harness onor removing the harness from the child.

Adjustment of the length of running line 126 may be facilitated by afeature of harness attachment 200. In one embodiment, running line 126may feed through harness attachment 200 such that pulling on the freeend of running line 126 reduces the length of the running line betweenharness attachment 200 and reciprocating loop 126.

In one embodiment, harness loop 122 further comprises sleeve 127. Sleeve127 may cover at least a portion of running line 126 and may comprise apadded material to provide additional comfort for the child or thewearer. In one embodiment, sleeve 127 comprises a 3-D mesh. Padding mayalso be placed between sleeve 127 and running line 126. In oneembodiment, padding between sleeve 127 and running line 126 comprises a3-D mesh.

Sleeve 127 may be attached to running line 126, such as by sewing sleeve127 to running line 126. A portion of sleeve 127 may not be attached torunning line 126. For example, a portion of sleeve 127 distal fromreciprocating loop 124 may not be attached to running line 126 and maybe referred to as cinching portion 128.

Cinching portion 128 may comprise a portion of sleeve 127 that may belongitudinally extended or compressed along the length of running line126 (for example, a length of strap or webbing). Cinching portion 128may provide additional comfort for the child by preventing running line126 from directly contacting the child. Because cinching portion 126 isnot attached to running line 126, cinching portion 128 may interfereminimally, if at all, with the movement of reciprocating loop 124 alongrunning line 126.

Reciprocating loop 124 may be sized to allow running line 126 to slideeasily through and may be formed from running line 126 and/or sleeve127. Reciprocating loop 124 may also be formed as a separate portionthat is attached to running line 126. In one embodiment, reciprocatingloop 124 may be sewn on to running line 126. Any suitable material maybe used to form reciprocating loop 124; however, it is preferred to usea material having a low coefficient of friction with the material usedfor running line 126 so as to facilitate cinching of the harness looparound the child's torso.

In one embodiment, harness 120 may attach to anchor flap attachment 210.Anchor flap attachment 210 may comprise a portion of a side releasebuckle. Anchor flap attachment 210 may be attached to any point suitablefor holding a child. For example, anchor flap attachment 210 may beattached to a carrier directly or may be attached to a carrier using anintermediate portion such as waist belt anchor portion 160.

As shown in FIG. 2, anchor flap 190 may comprise features that includean anchor flap attachment cover 220 with attachment cover press-fitsnaps 225 (or other fastening means) for corresponding engagement withupper anchor press-fit snaps 170 (or other fastening means) to coverharness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210. In variousembodiments, harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210 maybe engaged with one another to secure harness 120 to waist belt anchorportion 160. It will be appreciated that harness attachment 200 andanchor flap attachment 210 may comprise any fastening means, whether nowknown or hereafter described in the art. Anchor flap attachment cover220 may provide protection from any tendency of harness attachment 200and anchor flap attachment 210 to be unintentionally disengaged from oneanother or from pinching or abrading the wearer or child.

Anchor flap attachment 210 may be fastened to anchor flap 190 by webbingor any other fastening mechanism now known or hereafter described in theart.

FIG. 3 depicts an infant 300 disposed within harness loop 122 prior toengagement of harness attachment 200 with anchor flap attachment 210. Inoperation, harness loop 122 may be placed around the torso of infant300. Running line 126 may then be passed through reciprocating loop 124,thus encircling infant 300 as shown in FIG. 3. Infant 300 may then beplaced in a child carrier and harness attachment 200 may be connected toan attachment point, such as anchor flap attachment 210. Othervariations of use may exist. For example, harness loop 122 may be formedby placing harness attachment 200 through reciprocating loop 124 priorto being placed over infant 300. Harness attachment 200 may be attachedto anchor flap attachment 210 or other attachment point prior to placinginfant 300 into harness loop 122.

Once infant 300 is encircled by harness loop 122, running line 126 maybe adjusted to fit infant 300. Running line 126 need not be adjusted tothe same size as the child's torso and may only need to be adjusted toprevent an overly loose fit. Readjustment of running line 126 may beperformed as needed while the child is in the carrier.

FIG. 4 depicts an infant 300 disposed within harness loop 122 afterengagement of harness attachment 200 with anchor flap attachment 210 soas to tether infant 300 to the wearer 400 of child carrier 420. FIG. 4also shows anchor flap webbing 430 attached to anchor flap attachment210 for securing anchor flap attachment 210 to anchor flap 190. Inoperation, a child may be tethered to a wearer as follows. Anchor flapattachment 210 may engage harness attachment 200. Running line 126encircles infant 300 and may be attached to anchor flap attachment 210.Anchor flap attachment 210 may be in turn attached to harness attachment200. Harness attachment 200 is attached to anchor flap webbing 430,which is attached to anchor flap 190. Anchor flap 190 is attached tochild carrier 420 which is attached to wearer 400. Thus, infant 300 maybe tethered to wearer 400.

To prevent anchor flap 190 from sliding down between the wearer and thewaistband of the carrier (e.g., when the anchor flap is not attached toa harness), wedge 440 may be attached to anchor flap 190. In oneembodiment, wedge 440 may have a triangular profile. Wedge 440 maycomprise any suitable material, such as a foam material.

FIG. 5 shows a child carrier harness device and system prior toengagement of waist belt anchor portion 160 to the waistband 520 of achild carrier 530 in accordance with one embodiment. Child carrier 530may comprise child carrier waist belt 500, child carrier waistband 520,child carrier waistband fastener 525, back strap 535, and shoulderstraps 540. Anchor tongues 162 may be fed behind child carrier waistband520 for subsequent wrap-around secured engagement (as depicted, forexample, in FIG. 6) of waist belt anchor portion 160 to child carrierwaistband 520. Alternatively, anchor tongues 162 may be fed behind childcarrier waist belt 500 for subsequent wrap-around secured engagement ofwaist belt anchor portion 160 to child carrier waist belt 500.

As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment, anchor tongues 162 are fed behindwaistband 520. Anchor tongues 162 are then wrapped around the front ofwaistband 520. Anchor press-fit snaps 164 are attached to either loweranchor press-fit snaps 166 or upper anchor press-fit snaps 168. Anchortongue hook-and-loop material 180 may be engaged with lower anchorloop-and-hook material 182 or upper anchor loop-and-hook material 184.Anchor flap 190 may then be wrapped behind child carrier waist belt 500.Waist belt anchor portion 160 is thus installed on child carrier 530, asshown in FIG. 6.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, anchor flap 190 may wrap around child carrierwaist belt 500, extending around both sides of child carrier waist belt500.

FIG. 7 shows a child carrier harness system with an infant 300 tetheredto the wearer 400 of a child carrier 530 in accordance with oneembodiment. Infant 300 is placed within child carrier 530, between childcarrier 530 and wearer 400. Anchor flap 190 may extend above childcarrier waist belt 500. Harness120 encircles infant 300 and is connectedvia harness attachment 200 to anchor flap attachment 210. Attachmentcover press-fit snaps 225 may be engaged to upper anchor press-fit snaps170 to enclose harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210.Running line 126 may be adjusted at any point to fit infant 300.

While FIG. 7 shows a carrier on the front of a wearer's body and aninfant facing the wearer, the child carrier harness system can be usedin other configurations, including, but not limited to, front carry,side carry, and rear carry with the child facing either toward or awayfrom the wearer. Child carrier 530 is only one example of a childcarrier that may be used with the child carrier harness system. Manyother child carriers may utilize the child carrier harness systemdisclosed herein.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described withreference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the artwill appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified orotherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is tobe considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching thoseskilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments ofa child carrier harness. It is to be understood that the forms ofdisclosure herein shown and described are to be taken as embodiments.Equivalent elements or materials may be substituted for thoseillustrated and described herein. Moreover, certain features of thedisclosure may be utilized independently of the use of other features,all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having thebenefit of this description of the disclosure.

1. A harness system for a child carrier, comprising: a harness,comprising: a running line having a loop at one end and a harnessattachment point opposite the loop, the harness attachment point forcoupling to a corresponding carrier attachment point on the childcarrier, wherein a length of the running line is adjustable.
 2. Theharness system of claim 1, wherein the running line comprises polyesterwebbing.
 3. The harness system of claim 1, further comprising: a sleevecovering at least a portion of the running line.
 4. The harness systemof claim 3, wherein the sleeve comprises ripstop nylon.
 5. The harnesssystem of claim 3, wherein the sleeve comprises a padded material. 6.The harness system of claim 3, may include a cinching portion near theharness attachment point where the cinching portion is not attached tothe running line.
 7. The harness system of claim 1, wherein the harnessattachment comprises at least a portion of a side release buckle.
 8. Theharness system of claim 1, wherein the harness may tether a child bybeing placed around the child's torso, leaving the child's shoulders,arms, or legs unencumbered.
 9. The harness system of claim 1, whereinthe harness engages only a torso of a child.
 10. The harness system ofclaim 1, wherein the length of the running line is adjustable to fitchildren of various sizes.
 11. The harness system of claim 1, furthercomprising: an anchor portion coupled to the child carrier, comprising:a length of flexible material; a carrier attachment point correspondingto the harness attachment point for coupling to the harness attachmentpoint; and a set of fasteners for coupling the anchor portion to thechild carrier.
 12. A child carrier system, comprising: a child carrier;and a harness, comprising: a running line having a loop at one end and aharness attachment point opposite the loop, the harness attachment pointfor coupling to a corresponding carrier attachment point on the childcarrier.
 13. The child carrier system of claim 12, further comprising: asleeve covering at least a portion of the running line.
 14. The childcarrier system of claim 13, may include a cinching portion near theharness attachment point where the cinching portion is not attached tothe running line.
 15. The child carrier system of claim 12, wherein theharness attachment comprises at least a portion of a side releasebuckle.
 16. The child carrier system of claim 12, wherein the harnessmay tether a child by being placed around the child's torso, leaving thechild's shoulders, arms, or legs unencumbered.
 17. The child carriersystem of claim 12, wherein the harness engages only a torso of a child.18. The child carrier system of claim 12, wherein the length of therunning line is adjustable to fit children of various sizes.
 19. Thechild carrier system of claim 12, further comprising: an anchor portioncoupled to the child carrier, comprising: a length of flexible material;a carrier attachment point corresponding to the harness attachmentpoint; and a set of fasteners for coupling the anchor portion to thechild carrier.
 20. A harness for a child carrier, comprising: a harness,comprising: a running line having a loop at one end and a harnessattachment point opposite the loop, the harness attachment point forcoupling to a corresponding carrier attachment point on the childcarrier; and a sleeve covering at least a portion of the running line,wherein a length of the running line is adjustable; and an anchorportion coupled to the child carrier, comprising: a length of flexiblematerial; a carrier attachment point corresponding to the harnessattachment point wherein the carrier attachment point comprises aportion of a side release buckle; and a set of fasteners for couplingthe anchor portion to the child carrier.